HIMA's safety system passes Shell's assessment test
Shell recently performed comprehensive assessment tests of the HIMax safety system from HIMA Paul Hildebrandt GmbH + Co KG. With successful completion of the tests, HIMax can be used worldwide in the oil company's future projects, without additional evaluations.
As with its chosen control systems, Shell performs assessment tests (acceptance tests) on safety systems. During the qualification process, the product is subjected to an extensive and demanding evaluation. The objective of the assessment testing is to evaluate and document the safety system's strengths and weaknesses, as well as the project work of the system supplier.
HIMax, the system for mid-size and large applications, is the first safety system to allow uninterrupted system operation throughout a plant's entire life cycle. The largest part of the assessment test was performed in the spring of 2010 at HIMA`s headquarters in Brühl, Baden-Württemberg, Germany. One of Shell's main interests during the assessment test was to determine to what extent HIMax meets the demands and safety requirements of end users.
Like all other HIMA systems, HIMax can be integrated with all leading control systems. In contrast to solutions from other manufacturers, HIMA completely separates the safety system from the control system. Separating the hardware from the software guarantees a technical absence of reaction and ensures that safety-critical design, programming and operating errors (human common cause faults) are avoided.
"If no common mode failures may occur, a very good solution is a standalone safety system with a communication interface to the DCS," said Audun Gjerde from Shell Global Solutions.
During the assessment testing, four HIMax systems were tested with four different control systems (Yokogawa, Siemens, Honeywell, Emerson) – double the number set forth in the specification. Essential components of the assessment testing included a communication test, a hardware stress test, a FAT stress test, a temperature test, and an asset management test.
"The performance of HIMax is impressive, above all the performance between two safety controllers. The reaction rate of the controller under load is remarkable, as well as the fact that the configuration can be adjusted to the desired rate," said Mr. Gjerde.
The HIMA safety system also scored well in the important area of cyber security. The Achilles testing device from Wurldtech Security Technologies Ind. was used during the development of HIMax and the Canadian company issued HIMA the Achilles Level I Security Certificate in 2009.
"With this certification, HIMA demonstrated that they know how to handle cyber security. We have been requiring the Achilles test since several years. HIMA was familiar with our requirements and was able to meet them," said Mr. Gjerde.
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